Copyholder



E. L. ELLIOTT Dec. 5, 1950 coPYHoLDER y s'sneets-sheet 1l Filed Aug. is, 1946 I SWW/Wto@ EDWHRD l1. ELLIOTT E. L. ELLIOTT coPYHoLDEn Dec. 5, 195o -3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1946 :ze lgvwwbw.. EDWARD L. ELLIOTT Dec. 5, 1950 E. l.. ELLIOTT 2,532,765

COPYHOLDER Filed Aug. 15,A 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet `3 1,1 )DWBRD Lb 111.11@ T fr Patented Dec. 5, 1950 iJNl'i'ED STATES A'ENT @ENCE COPYHOLDER Application August 13, 1946, Serial No. 690,187

6 Claims.

This invention relates to copy holders, and more particularly to improvements in a device of the character which comprises a copy holding panel and an associated line guide, one of which is movable stepwise with respect to the other in increments equal to the line spacing of the copy.

Devices operating in this manner are of two general types; in one the standard which guides the copy holding panel is permanently mounted in a base in upright position and is in elect an integral part of the base, whereas in the other the standard and panel are designed to be swung down as a unit when not in use. This feature especially adapts the device for use as a fixture in the well of the conventional drop-head typewriter desk where it may occupy a position behind the typewriter or other machine, because when it is collapsed no parts project sufficiently far to interfere with closing the desk, yet when set up it is directly in iront of the operator where copy may be scanned more readily and with less fatigue than if it were off to one side.

Step-by-step advance of the copy holding panel is accomplished by reciprocation of a bar carrying a jack which in one direction of movement grips a rod attached to the copy holding panel, thereby raising it, but which holds the rod against retrograde movement when the bar is returned to its initial position.

For translating the rocking n'iotion of the operating lever into reciprocatory movement of the bar the end of the lever extends between the upper and lower elements of a bifurcated foot on the lower extremity of the bar, so that the lever may be disengaged when the standard is swung down to horizontal position and automatically reengaged when the standard is returned to its upright position. In prior constructions the lever end and the bifurcation of the foot were in opposed alignment so that as the relatively sharp edge at the end of the lever rocked back and forth it scraped along the foot, causing the surface to become grooved and thereby developing undesirable play between the parts. Wear at this point is materially reduced in the present invention by providing the end of the operating lever with a laterally extending offset portion which is received crosswise in the forked extremity of the reciprocating bar, thus presenting a rounded surface which has line contact with the foot over its entire width. The elongated bearing contact so aiorded not only does away with sharp-edge scraping but contributes to smoother operation a copy holder of this type the present invention provides an abutment on the operating arm oi the rocker lever which is adjustable to predetermined positions along it thereby determining the extent of movement of the lever and` consequently, the increments of advance of the copy holding panel. The set positions of the abutment may correspond to single` double and triple line spacing of typewritten matter, for example. Since, however, different makes of typewriters have slightly diierent line spacings, and even as between machines of the same make dierences of spacinrr rnav exist due to age and wear, my invention provides a supplementary, iiner adjustment by means of a micrometer screw, so that the spacing may be increased or diminished as need be for accurately underlining either typewritten or printed matter.

Still further, in the collapsible type of copy holder the copy holding unit cannot be pivoted at its center to the usual supporting plate which extends vertically from the base, because the overallV height of the collapsed device, i. e. with the standard and panel in horizontal position. would be crea-ter than the clearance between the well of a drop-head desk and the lid, as the desk is being closed. My invention provides a suitably low supporting plate or upright member which is slotted to receive a threaded stud projecting from the standard which comprises the back surface of the copy holdingv unit at a point below its center, the slot or slots presenting terminal abutments for the threaded slud and being so arranged that when the standard and attached copy holding panel are moved to horizontal position-they will be approximately centered with respect to the median line of the base and, therefore, symmetrically disposed, In order that they may be handled as a unit when telescoped together this invention provides a latch for securing the panel to the standard in a location which is easily accessible to the operator, the latch being automatically released by the linger for holding turned pages ofY copy when the same is set to an operative position.

My invention accordingly has as one of its` objects to provide an improved detachable connection between the operating lever and stepadvancing mechanism of a copy holder, wherein the bearing surface of one which is in rubbing contact with the other is rounded and the two are in extended contact, thereby to reduce wear and play between the parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable abutment onY the operating lever which limits its throw to'preselected increments of line spacings, and a supplementary, screw adjustment for varying the length of the operating arm of the lever and consequently the distance of the abutment from the fulcrum, for intermediate spacings or to adjust for slight departures from standard line spacing of the copy.

A further object of the invention is to provide a slotted plate extending upwardly from the base of a copy holder in which a pin or stud bolt projecting from the standard for the copy holding panel is received and guided, the slot or slots Ibeing designed to position the standard and panel, together comprising the copy holding unit Yor member, symmetrically with respect to the median line of the base in both vertical and horizontal positions of the copy holding member.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spring latch for securing the standard and copy holding panel in telescoped, intertting relation so that they may be handled as a unit when moved from upright to horizontal position, such latch being automatically released by setting the .finger for holding turned pages of copy into p- `erative position.

Other and further objects and advantages of the vinvention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, in which Figure 'l is a front View 4of the copy holder with portions of the copy vsupporting panel broken 1 away to show the operating mechanism for advancing and retracting it.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective View of the connection between the end of the operating lever and the bifurcated foot at the lower end of the reciprocating bar.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is'a side view, partly in section.

Figure 5 is a back View, showing in dotted 'lines the 4standard in horizontal position.

Figure 6 is a top view.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary back View showing the `standard supporting bracket with Vone form of guiding slot.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary back view showing a different slot arrangement.

Reierring more particularly to the drawings, the copy holder includes a `base plate I0 of sheet metal, plastic -or the likewhich extends forwardly f .from an upstanding plate II (Figure 4) and which .may be provided with keyhole slots, such as are shown at I2 in Figure 6, for the reception of vscrews to attach it to the platform of a drophead typewriter deskor other support.

A standard I3 having channeled side edges I4 and a flanged bottom edge I5 has a rearwardly projecting threaded stud I6 which extends through a slot I'I in the plate and which receives a -k-nurled vnut I8 -for securing the standard to the plate, at the same time urging its lower, anged edgeinto engagement with wedge-shaped abutments I 9 in the base, the latter being shown in detail in Figure 3.

A copy holding panel 26 with channeled edges -2-I is provided in telescopic sliding relation to the standard and carries'a spring clip 22 for gripping copy. As shown, this clip is formed with a -barrel yportion ..23 which receives a kU-shaped member 24 for retaining turned pages vof copy when the same is swung upwardly `from a position alongside the back of the standard.

Adjacent the upper edge of the standard a spring ,strip 25, preferably having a beaded edge .2.6, projects rearwardly andis .adapted Vto engage behind the laterally projecting finger of member 2li when the latter is swung down against the back of the standard, thereby latching the standard and copy holding panel together when the two are completely telescoped so that they are handled as a unit.

A stationary line guide 2'I is pivotally mounted on the free arm of a U-shaped member 28 which extends across the face of the copy holding panel, its parallel arm being pivotally received in a barrel 29 on the back of the standard, whereby the member 28 may be adjusted about its pivot to accommodate any number of sheets from a single one to a stack of considerable thickness, with the line guide resting flat on the surface of the copy.

The mechanism for imparting stepwise movement to the copy holding panel is shown in Figure l as comprising a reciprocating bar 3Q the upper end of which is in engagement with a jack 3i for advancing a piston rod 32 attached at its upper end to the panel. The jack consists of two strips formed with holes through which the piston rod extends, the strips when canted serving to grip the rod, one for advancing it on upward movement of the reciprocating bar and the other for holding it against retrograde movement on return of .the reciprocating Vbar to initial position. rThus, as the upper 'strip which is `carried at the end of the `reciprocating bar is canted in upward movement Iof the bar it will grip the piston rod and advance it, and at the same time the lower strip which is normally-canted by screw 33 will be carried to horizontal position where the piston rod may slide freely. At the limit of upward movement, however, the lower strip again assumes a canted position, gripping the piston rod and preventing its retrograde movement while the upper `strip 0n :being returned with the reciprocating bar relaxes its grip on the piston rod and when returned to initial position again grips it vat a lower point. The lower strip has an -upturned end which is engaged when the reciprocating bar retracted beyond its normal limit of downward movement, as determined by a spring stop 3d. rl'ihis causes the lower strip to be rocked -on the screw 33 to horizontal position and .the upper strip vbeing also brought to horizontal position, the piston rod is released and the panel drops to initial position, being cushioned in its drop by the relatively slow escape of air from a cylinder 35 into which the piston advances as the -panel falls.

The reciprocating bar is guided at .top and bottom by slots in the brackets 35 and Se, and is urged by a spring 37 to a normal, retracted position. At its lower end it :carries a bifurcated foot which, is formed by a forwardly extending flange 38 on the end of the reciprocating bar, and a stepped member 39 welded or otherwise affixed to it, the two defining between them a forwardly opening slot with an upturned lip di), the latter serving to prevent accidental engagement of the Vend `4I of the operating `lever over the stepped member rather than in the slot, when the two are brought into engagement.

The operating lever 62 is a rocker, the long arm 43 of which is formed of two interengaging parts including a screw threaded stem and socket, the parts being held in fixed relative position by locking nuts lili. At intervals in its length the arm is formed with notches for locating the set screw 45 of an adjustable abutment in positions to limit the throw of the lever to Vsome selected line spacing, as for example single, double 5 and triple typewriter spacing, and at its handle end the lever may be flattened in 'sh tail shape as at 137 to facilitate manipulation. By loosening the locking nuts and giving the arm i3 a few turns it will be lengthened or shortened and the abutment 46 will consequently be moved nearer to or farther from the pivotal axis of the lever thereby varying the length of stroke and consequently the magnitude of the stepwise increments of movement oi the copy holding panel. The pivotal axis of the lever lies in the portion which connects the offset arms 4i and i3 such connecting portion being secured to the base by the strap bearing 5G. Throughout a portion of its length the short arm di extends at a right angle to the pivotal axis, as does the long arm, but its end is bent to extend parallel to the pivotal axis, thereby constituting the end a crank arm which is received crosswise between the elements 38 and 39 of the bifurcated foot on the reciprocating bar Sii. This crank arm extends entirely across the foot element 3 and since its contacting surface is rounded it will not scrape and groove the under surface of elements `39 as to cause undue wear.

It is evident that if the plate were high enough to receive a stud located in the center of the standard, the standard when in horizontal position would be spaced above the base and would interfere with closing the drop-head desk in which the device is intended to be mounted. At the same time the collapsed device would not be compact and would be cumbersome to transport. My invention provides a slot i? located in the median line of the bracket, which locates the threaded stud i6 so that when the standard is in upright position it is centered with respect to the base. The edge of the slot intersects a downwardly slanting surface 48 along which the shank of stud I6 rides as the standard is being swung A down to horizontal position, and this slanting surface terminates in a second slot 49 which limits the travel of the stud and which is laterally offset from slot Il by the same distance as that by which the stud is offset from the center of the standard. Thus, when the standard is swung to horizontal position and is Secured its end will be symmetrically disposed with respect to the base and its side edge will rest on the base.

The slotted construction may take various forms; in Figure '7 a continuous, closed slot is provided, whereas in Figure 8 the portion 48 intermediate the ends is open. If it is desired to insure that the parts will not be accidentally separated the terminal slots may have angular offsets providing locking shoulders such as 5|.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a, copy holder comprising a copy holding unit and an upright plate for supporting the same in vertical operative position or in horizontal inoperative position, a stud projecting from the back of the copy holding unit, spaced terminal slots in said plate providing abutments for limiting movement of the stud and positioning the same with the copy holding unit in a selected position, and means carried by said stud and bearing on said upright plate for securing the copy holding unit thereto.

2. In a collapsible copy holder comprising a copy holding unit which may be selectively swung from a vertical operative position to a horizontal inoperative position, an upstanding plate, a stud projecting rearwardly from the copy holding unit and adapted to engage in and be guided by slots in the plate, said slots intersecting to form an acute angle with downwardly diverging sides, one said slot terminating in the median line of said plate, whereby in vertical position of the copy holding unit the stud positions said unit with its side edges symmetrically disposed with respect to said plate, the terminal portion of the communieating slot serving to locate said stud in such position that the ends of the copy holding unit are symmetrically disposed with respect to said plate when the copy holding unit is in horizontal position.

3. In a copy holder having a copy holding unit which may be selectively swung from a vertical operative position to a horizontal inoperative position, an upstanding plate to which the copy holding unit is detachably secured, an inverted V-shaped slot in said plate adapted to receive a stud projecting from the copy holding unit, the terminal ends oi said slot being so located that when the stud comes into contact with one such slot end the copy holding unit will be vertically positioned with its median line coinciding with that-of said plate, and when swung down to horizontal position with the stud in contact with the other such slot end, the copy holding unit will be positioned with its ends symmetrically disposed With respect to said plate.

4.. The combination of claim l, wherein the spaced terminal slots comprise the end portions of upwardly converging straight slots merging to form an inverted V.

5. The combination of claim l, wherein the spaced terminal slots comprise spaced open-end slots extending inwardly from the edge of the upright plate.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the spaced terminal slots comprise angularly disposed portions connected by a communicating slot forming acute angles with said terminal slots.

EDWARD L. ELLIOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 489,518 Ambruster Jan. 10, 1893 815,338 Farish et al Mar. 20, 1906 1,222,282 Gray et al Apr. l0, 1917 2,076,448 Dodds Apr. 6, 1937 2,280,772 Dodds Apr. 28, 1942 

